The decline can be fast or slow depending on the nutrient in question, the crop and on how that crop is handled. Produce shipped in from distant farms has two distinct nutritional disadvantages when compared to local produce.

First, it is likely to spend a longer time losing nutritional value between harvest and eating; and secondly, it is usually picked well before its peak of nutrition so that it won't wilt or spoil before it is sold.

Grocery stores that carry a wider range of produce and exotic foods, such as mangoes and avocados, are gradually becoming more commonplace.

It is interesting, however, to remember the enormous variety of locally grown fruits and vegetables that use to be available to us. A book on American apples and pears written at the time of the Civil War listed over 'common' varieties of apples and varieties of pears.

One of the great things about local produce is that you can get varieties that are chosen for their taste and nutrition, not for how well they hold up to mechanical harvest and shipping. One hundred years ago most states grew most of the food their citizens ate.

Now almost all states, including agricultural ones, get the bulk of their food from outside their boundaries at a high cost. As more of our produce started coming from huge mechanized farms thousands of miles away, the economy of many rural communities suffered.

Massachusetts has its particular situation with regard to production of and demand for fruits and vegetables. However, it is still clear from this study that increasing local food production could strengthen the local economy in many, if not all, fifty states.

In the central Appalachia region of the country this issue has special importance because of the historical role of tobacco. Tobacco, long a cornerstone of this area's rural economy, is in decline as people become more aware of the negative impact of smoking on their health.

Tobacco is a labor-intensive crop that receives a high price per pound. An acre or two of tobacco grown on the best land available was often enough to keep many small hill farms solvent and to create some local employment.

As farmers look to replace tobacco, high quality fruits and vegetables are one of the most frequently mentioned options.

Specialty fruits and vegetables require a great deal of hand labor but like tobacco, could have a high return per acre. Kentucky is the classical tobacco state where in fruits and vegetables made up less than one half of one percent of sales from Kentucky farms, while tobacco accounted for If some of the economic value of raising tobacco could be replaced by increasing production of fruits and vegetables both the rural economy and the general health of the people could benefit.

It has been estimated that each bite of food in the U. has been hauled an average of 1, miles from the farm to the market shelf before being eaten. Transport of fruits and vegetables is especially demanding on the environment. Because of this, much of the produce that is hauled across the U. is delivered in refrigerated trucks that require even more fuel per mile than ordinary transport.

To put this in perspective, consider that every tractor-trailer load of produce grown in the eastern US instead of shipped in from southern California means - gallons of fuel that doesn't need to be drilled for, refined and burned. As we become more attuned to how our natural ecosystems function, the many indirect environmental costs of unnecessary transportation are becoming clearer.

These include air pollution, noise, traffic congestion and global warming. We grow more than we can consume, so Manitoba commodities are exported across Canada and the world. This export allows us to trade for other goods that are not produced or manufactured in Manitoba and consumers benefit from a wider selection of food products.

Manitoba DAIRY farmers, under the umbrella of the Dairy Farmers of Canada, have some of the highest standards in the world.

Visit the Dairy Farmers of Manitoba for recipes and more information. You will see many different types of eggs in the grocery store, but all are grown with strict standards for food safety and animal care.

If you would like to learn more, visit the Manitoba Egg Farmers. If you are buying any type of local meat, it is important to know that it has been slaughtered at a licenced and inspected meat plant. Visit the Manitoba Chicken Producers to learn more about how chickens are raised in Manitoba and to find great recipes for this nutritious food product.

If you wish to buy chicken directly from a farmer, it must be a whole eviscerated bird. The label must include the name and address of the producer and include the words Not Government Inspected.

TURKEY is also raised in Manitoba and can be purchased whole or as individual cuts to make great meals. Tasty recipe ideas for turkey are provided by the Manitoba Turkey Producers. Many different cuts of BEEF make great family meals.

Find out more about how beef animals are raised and try the delicious recipes from the Manitoba Beef Producers. Manitoba is the leading producer of PORK in Canada, with about half of what is raised being exported around the world.

Manitoba Pork has recipes, nutrition information and information about how pork is produced. Fresh LAMB is available in several locations in Manitoba. For information on selecting cuts and how to cook lamb, visit the Manitoba Sheep Association.

BISON is available in some retail locations but can often be purchased directly from farmers who have had their animals slaughtered in an inspected plant.

For a list of producers, recipes and where to buy, visit the Manitoba Bison Association. Manitoba FISH are harvested mainly from Lake Winnipeg and Lake Manitoba, but there are also a number of lakes in northern and southern Manitoba that are fished for commercial sale.

Most commercial fishing in Manitoba is for export out of the country, but if you are looking to purchase fish caught in Manitoba lakes, ask your local fish store for what they have in stock: walleye pickerel , whitefish, goldeye, trout and northern pike are some likely options.

Manitoba grows a wide variety of PULSES including field beans kidney, pinto, navy, romano, black, large white faba beans, field peas and lentils. SOYBEANS are also an important crop in Manitoba. The processing of these products is a growing industry in our province. Processing these grains locally is another large part of our food economy.

There is one local wheat flour mill, Prairie Flour Mills, located in Elie, Manitoba. Three major oat milling companies are also in our province; Richardson Milling Portage la Prairie , Emerson Milling Emerson and Buffalo Creek Mills Altona. They produce a variety of products from oat flour to granola, to dehulled oats used in pet nutrition.

Looking for organic grains? Adagio Acres is a small farm that sells a variety of grains and seeds direct to consumers, and they also offer a Grain CSA where you can get a bulk assortment of organic Manitoba grains and seeds from various farmers.

OILSEEDS grown in Manitoba include flax, canola, hemp and sunflowers.

You will not find comparable meat anywhere else! Big Oak Farms - from birth to butcher, we offer unsurpassed quality meat. Fresh home grown strawberries, raspberries, black currants, blueberries, gooseberries, pears, potatoes and more. Fruit stand down by winery. Family estate winery on site.

Farm open June thru October. Carolinia Cider Company is an orchard based cidery making small batch, estate grown ciders in the heart of the Carolinian Forest. Come and enjoy a flight of glass of cider among our Carolinian Forest and apple orchard.

Wander our greenhouses May-June and enjoy our Pick Your Own Dahlia field late August-October. Pre-booked tickets are required for PYOs. Homegrown vegetables: specializing in sweet corn, green and yellow beans, beets, carrots and field tomatoes.

Locally grown peaches, apples and potatoes also available. Phone orders available. Fresh, great tasting naturally fed lamb processed on our farm.

Find us on Facebook. Order ahead by the piece or whole. Pick up Saturday mornings or by appointment. A wide variety of Fall decorations from pumpkin, squash and gourds, to corn stalks, straw bales and fall mums.

In the heart of Essex County wine country on historic County Road 50 in Colchester. We go the extra mile to grow premium quality carrots, tomatoes, lettuce, broccoli and spinach in our high quality, dense soil. A Bee Apiary that promotes a holistic and natural approach to farming, gardening and bee-keeping.

We thrive to provide our customer with Good Quality honey, raised by our own bees. We sell honey products and Bee-keeping supplies. Thank you for choosing Hylander Beef for your family. We practice Ontario beef husbandry standards, finishing our Angus beef with a balanced diet of grass and corn in order to provide our customers with aged savoury tender beef cuts.

Growing since , Kranicz Orchards is a fourth-generation fruit farm specializing in sweet, tree-ripened peaches, plums, nectarines, and apricots. Variety of fruit, and vegetables picked fresh daily.

Baked goods and preserves for personal use or gifts. Like us on Facebook! We offer pasture pork, chicken and eggs. All raised on our farm where the animals spend their time out grazing on pasture. We offer full range of pork and chicken cuts and products. Check out our website for a full listing.

We also have available a variety of other locally grown fruits and vegetables. has the earliest start of any crop in Canada, and with their high-tech storage facilities, BC fresh ensures consistent and high quality vegetables are available well into the winter months, with many crops available almost year round.

They also implement sustainability practices such as integrated pest management, using crop consultants to ensure maximum yields with minimal inputs, and laser-levelled fields that balance irrigation to reduce overall water usage. BC fresh is also a strong supporter of local food banks.

For assistance connecting with this company, please contact a BC Trade and Investment Representative. The B.

Public Service acknowledges the territories of First Nations around B. and is grateful to carry out our work on these lands. Check out when your favorite farm fresh fruits and veggies should be ready in store!

You can't beat fresh from the farm! Celebrate the holidays with a locally raised free-range turkey from Downey's Farm Market! Your family and belly will love it! Easterfest features many egg-citing activities.

The Easter Bunny and his helpers will return in March This special time of year on the farm makes for a wonderful winter tradition! The farm is not hosting Birthday Parties in Treat your team or clients to a fun filled day at the farm. At Downey's Farm, we have prided ourselves in providing our customers with only the freshest, locally grown fruits and vegetables direct from the fields in Caledon, and surrounding areas for over 30 years.

GROWING CALENDAR. We carry only the freshest Ontario produce, and our customers are confident that they are receiving, hands down, the best quality produce. Some of the produce you can find at the farm when in season include strawberries, raspberries, sweet green peas, peaches, and blueberries.

You are in for a treat when you smell the delicious aroma of fresh, home baked breads and pies in the oven at the Downey's Farm Bakery. We offer fresh baked pies, breads, pastries, cookies, sausage rolls, cakes, cookies and buttertarts. While we bake your favourites daily, all items are subject to availability.

We are happy to take orders and you can do so by emailing info downeysfarm. FIND OUT MORE! Whether you are meeting friends at the farm, passing through, or refueling from a big day of play, we've got you covered for lunch. Downey's also carries a wide variety of specialty items, giftware, preserves, maple syrup, cheeses, jams, and jellies.